 HIGHER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

Maintenance and determination of standards in higher education has been a special responsibility of the Central Government. While this responsibility for the whole country is discharged mainly through the University Grants Commission, a number of educational and research institutions in the field of higher education have come into being under Central auspices through the years of independence ; they are : (i) Central Universities, viz., Aligarh Muslim University, Banaras Hindu University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, University of Delhi, Visva-Bharati, North-Eastern Hill University and University of Hyderabad; (ii) National Staff College for Educational Planners and Administrators, New Delhi ; (iii) Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Simla ; (iv) Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, New Delhi; (v) Indian Council of Social Science Research, New Delhi, and (vi) Indian Council of Historical Research, New Delhi. Besides the Ministry of Education follows a number of schemes in this field, particularly relating to academic collaboration between India and other countries. A brief account of the activities of these institutions and programmes is given in this chapter.

A. UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION

The main emphasis of the UGC programmes in the Fifth Five-Year Plan is on consolidation, flexibility and social justice. Towards this end, efforts were continued, during the year, for the strengthening and proper orientation of the existing departments of universities, making the existing colleges viable to raise their academic standards and regulating the growth of enrolment in formal and full-time education particularly at the undergraduate level.

Institutions.-There were 102 universities and 9 institutions deemed to be universities under Section 3 of the UGC Act, during 1975- 76 ; the corresponding numbers in February, 1977 were 105 and 10 respectively. There were restraints on the part of State Governments/Universities in giving permission for starting new colleges. The growth rate on an average was 200 colleges per annum. during the period 1969-73. As per information available with the Commission, the number of newly started colleges dropped to about 150 in 1973-74, 80 in 1974-75 and it was 120 in 1975-76. There were, in all, 4,508 colleges in 1975-76. Regulation of expansion in the number of colleges helped the existing institutions to have larger enrolments conducive to raising the standards of collegiate education.

Enrolment.-As regards enrolment, the growth rate in universities and colleges, excluding PUC/intermediate/pre-professional/pre-medical which was about 14 per cent in 1969-70 over the enrolment in the previous year, fell down to 5.9 per cent in 1974-75 and to 2.5 per cent in 1975-76. There were about 24.26 lakh students in universities and colleges in 1975-76. The affiliated colleges account for 84.8 per cent of the total. The percentage of students in affiliated colleges was as high as 89.4 at undergraduate stage, 52.7 at postgraduate stage and 11 at the research level. The decline in growth of enrolment could be attributed to socio-economic development as also to the addi- tional facilities made available for non-formal education through private study and correspondence courses. Enrolment at postgraduate level/stage as a proportion of total enrolment at the university and college level increased from 9.6 per cent in 1973-74 to 9.9 per cent in 1974-75 and dropped to 9.1 per cent in 1975-76.

Assistance for Teaching Programmes.-While enrolments, in general, are being regulated in the interest of maintenance of standards and proper utilisation of the scarce resources, specific measures like the provision of remedial courses and 'reservation of seats have been adopted to ensure that students belonging to the weaker and under- privileged sections of the society are

not denied access to higher education. The Fifth Plan proposals of the universities and colleges take into account the need for special facilities for backward areas and special efforts towards the removal of regional imbalances. The Commission, for the current Plan period, liberalised the minimum eligibility conditions in respect of enrolment and faculty strength as also the pattern of assistance for colleges located in tribal/backward areas. For the construction of academic buildings by colleges located in such areas, the Commission's contribution is 2/3rd of the approved cost against 50 per cent allowed to other institutions. For student hostels, the Commission's assistance is 75 per cent of approved cost for colleges in backward areas as against 50 per cent for others. All institutions assisted by the Commission towards the construction of hostels for students are now required to reserve 20 per cent of the seats in such hostels for students belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.

Against the total provision of Rs. 95 to 100 crore for the development of universities, the Commission bad invited proposals from the universities/institutions deemed to be universities and postgraduate centres within a ceiling allocation of Rs. 107.25 crore. This does not include the needs of Jawaharlal Nehru University, North Eastern Hill University and Hyderabad University. The development needs of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, are being looked after by the budgeted funds for engineering and technology. During 1976-77, the Commission with the help of expert visiting committees completed the assessment of Fifth Plan proposals of the universities and conveyed the approval of the programmes. The State Governments were advised to set up Inter- University Coordination Boards so as to make the use of all available resources and expertise for the coordinated development of the academic programmes of the various universities in each State. The universities were also asked to set up Planning Boards which would be responsible for a continuous review of the implementation of the various academic programmes, preparation of long-term Plans and suggesting measures to involve the universities more closely with the problems and needs of the

community. The Commission agreed to provide assistance for the appointment of teaching and technical staff for a period of full five years-up to the end of March, 1981. The universities were requested to make appointments of academic staff through open advertisements on an all-India basis in respect of posts sanctioned by the, Commission.

The Commission bad been anxious that the recruitment of the additional faculty positions sanctioned to the universities during the Fifth Plan period is made on an all-India basis. The Commission accordingly agreed to provide residential accommodation up to 50 per cent of such faculty positions. Depending upon the availability of funds, the Commission is also eager to provide physical facilities such as residential accommodation for the participants of various faculty improvement programmes like summer institutes, seminars, orientation courses, etc. to ensure greater interaction amongst the universities and other agencies. A Working Group has been appointed to work out the details of visiting faculty complex under which most of the universities may provide accommodation for about 50 visiting faculty members in a complex.

The important steps taken by the Commission towards the development of higher education include special assistance to the centres of advanced study, departments of special assistance, development of colleges, restructuring of courses, implementation of 10 + 2 + 3 pattern of education, examination reforms, faculty improvement programmes including organisation of seminars, workshops and refresher courses for teachers, travel grant to teachers, special assistance to teacher education and research, programmes of area studies and research fellowships and improvement of undergraduate education. Steps were also taken towards giving autonomy to selected colleges so that they could experiment with new education process and bring about necessary changes in the courses of study and techniques of teaching and evaluation.

The Commission continued to provide assistance to arts, science and commerce colleges within a ceiling of Rs. 5 lakh

for the improvement of under education. Assistance to post-graduate colleges for strengthening post-graduate studies is being made at the rate of Rs. 1 to 2 lakh per department. Proposals were also invited from teachers' training colleges, law colleges, institutes of home science, school of social work, etc. at Rs. 1.5 lakh per college as Commission's share.

The Rs. 5 lakh scheme to be implemented by the colleges includes provision for construction of buildings, purchase of books and equipment, workshops, animal house, faculty improvement, including practical training and experience as also orienting courses towards community needs. Both city colleges and colleges in rural areas are being assisted to restructure their courses, provide remedial courses under this programme so as to make them relevant to the needs of students from rural/backward areas and students belonging to the weaker sections of the society. By 1976-77, proposals of about 400 colleges under the scheme were accepted.

It was further agreed that one to two colleges in each district would be identified to work as quality institutions. The colleges which have a viable enrolment, a satisfactory student-teacher ratio and good facilities would be chosen with the help of universities so that such institutions could be developed to take up quality programmes on the principles of diversification, modernisation, etc. Such 'lead colleges' would also help in providing good education to socially under-privileged sections. Additional. assistance up to Rs. 3 lakh may be provided to such colleges in addition to the assistance available to them under the Rs. 5 lakh scheme. The Commission proposes to select some 100 colleges under this scheme.

The Commission proposes to select about 50--100 colleges located in backward/rural areas and serving the needs of the weaker sections of the society in the States, in further relaxation of the eligibility conditions. These colleges will be selected in consultation with the State Governments and the universities.

The Commission appointed a standing committee to advise it

on the general policy regarding the introduction of + 3 stage by the universities. The Commission also set up joint consultative com- mittees with Indian Medical Council and National Council of Educational Research and Training for studying the implications of the new pattern on professional courses.

A set of guidelines was communicated to universities for restructuring courses of studies at the first degree level with general principles of relevance and flexibility so that they would be related to local needs and environment. With the help of review committees, subject-panels and regional workshops, a process was initiated that would lead to the updating and modernisation of syllabi and courses and the development of teaching/ learning processes related to the individual and social needs of students.

Faculty improvement programmes and faculty awards were accorded due priority. The Commission selected about 650 teacher-fellows on all-India basis. In addition, about 323 departments in the universities, IITs, national laboratories, etc. in various disciplines, were identified with the provision of an allocation of up to ten eligible teacher-fellows from affiliated colleges at any given time.

Assistance for Research Programmes.-The Commission has been attaching great importance to research programmes. By 1976-77, over 720 major research schemes and about 1.800 minor research schemes were accepted. 147 colleges were provided assistance under COSIP (College Science Improvement Programme) and the proposals of 104 colleges were accepted under COHSIP (College Humanities and Social Sciences Improvement Programme). University leadership projects were accepted in 36 science departments and two departments of humanities and social sciences in the universities. The Commission agreed to provide assistance for the installation of computer at 14 universities.

The Commission agreed to award 23 scholarships for Postgraduate studies and 50 junior research fellowships in Approved

institutions in specified subjects of relevance to the problems of border'/hill areas within the territorial jurisdiction of NorthEastern Hill University, Kashmir University,Garhwal University, Kumaon University and Himachal Pradesh University.

Reservation of Seats for Scheduled Castes/Tribes.-The Commission requested the universities to observe the guidelines issued by the Government of India for the reservation of seats for students belonging to schedule([ castes and scheduled tribes. They were also requested to give a concession of 5 per cent markets in the minimum percentage of marks required for admission to any course. The commission advised the universities to provide for reservations for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes for recruitment to the posts of lecturer's in the universities and colleges and suggested ways for such reservations. In order that teaching posts may not remain vacant for long periods, it was indicated that such reservations might not be operated on a roster system nor should the reserved posts be carried forward from year to year. Ten per cent of the research fellowships have been reserved for scheduled caste and scheduled tribe candidates. In addition, the Commission instituted 20 senior and 50 junior research fellowships to be awarded annually exclusively to SC/ ST candidates.

There has been a steady progress in the implementation of Commission's programme of research fellowships in humanities, social sciences, sciences and engineering and technology. Steps were also taken to establish regional instrumentation centres to help the universities to repair and bring to use their idle equipment and to train technicians to maintain the equipment properly.

Students' Welfare Programmes.-The Commission continued to give assistance towards students' amenities and students' welfare including the provision of hostel accommodation, study centres, non-resident student centres, student aid fund, health centres, and the establishment of book banks. The scheme of book banks was extended to all colleges including professional colleges having enrolment of 100 students and more. Under the book banks

scheme, multiple copies of the text books are provided in all college libraries and they are made available to deserving students on loan during the period of their study. The universities and colleges were also assisted towards establishing a student aid fund so that the poor and needy students might be helped to pay tuition fees and examination fees and meet other needs related to their study. The Vice Chancellors of universities were requested that text books and stationery items should be supplied at controlled rates to all students. They were also requested to ensure the adequate supply of food and other essential consumer items at reasonable prices for students in hostels.

The Commission, with the help of a working group, reviewed the implementation of the various programmes of students' amenities and students' welfare and on its recommendations agreed to liberalise assistance for canteens, establishment of student aid fund, study centres, etc. Assistance is also envisaged for the improvement of living conditions in hostels, i.e., sanitary facilities, proper dining has, etc. on a 75 : 25 sharing basis. The Commission also agreed to provide assistance to universities/colleges for gymnasia and improvement of play-fields.

Programmes of Cultural Exchange and International Collaboration.- The Commission implements such of the items of the Cultural Exchange Programmes as are assigned to it in terms of the agreements signed between the Government of India and foreign governments. These normally involve exchange of visits by teachers/scholars ranging between 3 and 12 weeks for lecture-cum-study.

During 1975-76, the Commission implemented regular cultural exchange programmes with the Governments of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Poland, GDR, FRG, France, USSR, Iran, Yugoslavia, Arab Republic of Egypt and Mongolia. Besides, the Commission also implemented ad hoc programmes of bilateral academic exchanges with some more countries. During the year, 70 foreign scholars were received and 88 Indian scholars were sent abroad under

various cultural exchange programmes. These visits have provided an excellent opportunity to the Indian teachers to study the latest developments in various fields abroad. Comprehensive reports received from Indian and foreign scholars have also, helped the Commission to formulate effective collaborative programmes between universities and institutions in India and their counterparts in the foreign countries.

On the basis of the experience of the Indian participants and' with a view to making the best use of cultural exchanges, the Commission took steps to encourage studies and research in depth on collaborative basis. This has usually taken the form of bilateral academic contacts on a continuing basis between specified departments/universities/institutions after proper identification of areas/disciplines in which cooperation could be profitably permitted to the mutual advantage of both the countries. Such bilateral academic programmes include exchange of teachers/ scholars and publication and provision of joint scientific research.

Besides the regular and ad hoc Cultural Exchange Programmes, the Commission is also implementing the following programmes involving international collaboration :

(i) Indo-British Universities Collaboration Programme.Under this programme there is a provision for the development of academic links between selected universities in India and those in UK in pursuance of identified joint research programmes. Such programmes are approved by the implementing agencies, namely, UGC in India and the British Council in, UK. The British Council has agreed to provide for the visit of some Indian scholars to UK for collection of source material in connection with their research work. The British Council has also agreed to, provide international air fare for 6 leading British academicians for visiting India for a period not exceeding 3-4 weeks.

(ii) Indo-US Fellowship Programme.--Started in 1975-76, it continued in 1976-77. The UGC is required

to offer up to 10 post-graduate fellowships to American scholars for their research work in India. Similarly, the US Government have agreed to provide 6 post-doctoral fellowships of the duration of 10 months each and 3 visitorships of the duration of 13 weeks each for Indian scholars for their research work in the USA.